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Sep. 18th, 2008

... and JUST my organic chemistry books cost me $535!!!! Holy shit!! I didn't know that half the battle was just buying these damn things!! I'm scared for the amount of homework they can give us, because really, FOUR books AND a molecule set just does not bode well for my freetime.

In other news, I'm at school now thanks to the Japanese placement test I took yesterday (HARD!!!), and I'MSOEXCITEDFORTHISYEAR!!!!OMG!!!!! I've met... all but one of my suitmates, and they seem SO excellent!! One of them is even in the same orgo class with me at 8am!!! This is going to be so great!!!

Oh, and I think I"m going to friends lock my journal now. Because I feel like it.

Sep. 10th, 2008

I got an Avatar video game for XBox today, because my cousin who's living at our house has an XBox 360. And I feel as video games go, it's pretty easy, and probably not made that well, but it's really cute.

And REALLY fun!!!

...that's all. I still haven't watched the finale to that yet though. I'm waiting to watch it with my best friend I met in Japan on Skype. It's an experiment, but it will be EXCELLENT!!! XDDD

Sep. 9th, 2008

Man... so I just finished the book called A Feast of Souls by C.S. Friedman and OMG, it was SO EXCELLENT!!! I really love reading, and I was just so excited that I had time to read when I got back from Japan. It took me like a week to finish this one, but it was 600 pages and I was taking my time :P But regardless, the point is that I just get this rush when I finish a good book, and I'm just SO excited for it!!! And so then it makes me wonder, well, why was it such a good book?

The first thing that comes to mind is Prince Andovan. He was the true hero in this book, I think. He was dying from the very beginning, because he was a Magister 's(Kamala/Lianna) consort. So from the very beginning his strength was getting drained, he was fighting against his VERY soul to keep going and to continue fighting for what he believes in. Against all odds he goes out to search for the person who was sapping his strength. Even when he knows he is dying, he comes to help his mother in her fight against the ikati for their very world. He asks Kamala to destroy the ikati, even when she tells him it will kill him. Without hesitating, he tells her to do it. He sacrifices himself for his people, to give others a chance at life. He cares about his family... after his father (who is completely insane at this point) kills his firstborn son, he runs to stop him kill his mother, even when it will probably mean his own life. Against all odds he fights against the world, to save it, to save his family... and that just really impressed me. It really is true what the Dark Knight movie said about being good and dying young or else turning evil. All the true heroes have untimely deaths, because they put themselves in the face of danger in order to help others. That's true heroism right there. So, yeah. Prince Andovan is my hero :P

Additionally, I think the world in this book is very creative and interesting. The human politics, the society, how the magic works, the characters... they're just all so excellent! Oh, and the plot too, but I think you really have to have these excellent other things at the same time. Like, it's not just a creative plot that really makes a story. I could think up all kinds of creative fantasy things. But what really makes the story is the way that the plot is told. The writing style, the world, the characters, the magic system... all of these things together are what truly makes a great story. And I really love that XD

Yes, so EVERYONE should read a Feast of Souls by C.S. Friedman if you have not already... but I'm sure that no one has already :P

Sep. 7th, 2008

So, for my birthday, my family got me Seasons 6 and 7 of Law and Order SVU... OMG, THEY ARE SO GREAT!!!! SVU is like the only show that has stand alone episodes that I've seen/plan on seeing all of them... Yeah, it's SO GOOD!!! I've watched 2 of the discs already, and would have watched more, but I like to watch them with my family who is more busy :P

Yeah, so, I sometimes look at the things I like to watch and read, and realize how creepy they are... Sometimes this worries me.

Aug. 27th, 2008

... I really liked a lot. They were on the walls of Higashi hongan-ji. I only wish I could understand the Japanese version of them because they would be so beautiful I think.

"All of the things we've taken for granted, are, upon reflection, unbelievably wonderful." Noriyuki Namba

"The heart that reminded me to believe in other power; that heart was in fact self power" Hina Mori (Not translated incredibly well, but you can imagine what the actual meaning is)

"It is easy to understand the wishes we place upon others. The wishes placed upon us are difficult to realize." Shunko Tashiro

"We think to ourselves that I am right, I am wise. This is the root of human delusion." Ko Kamei

Yeah, so just really interesting things to think about. Things that we really do take for granted in our everyday life, like our thoughts-- the way we think and look at the world and process the world. For instance the different thoughts everyone who is reading this livejournal post will have, the images and memories it will bring to mind-- will it inspire a post of your own, a new way of thinking, or will you simply skim over it and move on to the next one? Everyone does something different, and I don't think that people realize that all the time. They just think, this is the way I process the world, and don't take the time to think that everyone does this differently-- it's magnificent, really! Therefore because we all think differently, what is immediately apparent to one, another may never notice. And we don't even realize this! Additionally, I think we take for granted how important it is to believe in ourselves. For in truth, there is no one else who can know you so wholly and completely as yourself. So if you can not be okay with living in your own skin, then it will be a very lonely world for you.

... and decided that Buddhism was really interesting. I really like the quotations and such from it. Like the moral philosophy and stuff. It really intrigues me. The sentences are very philosophical and make me think about life, question my existence, etc., and I really like that.

For instance, the Higashi honganji temple which I visited today is having it's 750th (I know, ridiculous, right?) anniversary in 3 years, and they had some pamphlets advertising it (early, but really... 750 years?! you have to start advertising early). The theme is "Now, Life is living you" and I really loved the back of the pamphlet, and thought some of the themes in it were really applicable to everyday life (except for the part at the bottom obviously only applicable to buddhism :P)

So, here is my pamphlet:

NowA: "Do you have time?"B: "I do not have time."A: "You have a watch, don't you?"B: "Oh, are you asking me what time it is now?"

The time does not belong to me. The time belongs to the universe. The mind fools us. The mind can go back to the memories in the past. The mind can go to the future that is not guaranteed to occur. "Now" is only here while you are reading this leaflet.

Life is living youA: "This is a strange English sentence. It should be 'Life is living within you.'"B: "In the biological sense, it is all right to say life is living within you. But it becomes an expression of possession. Consequently, we say this is My life, that is Your life."A: "What's wrong with that?"B: "Well, - bottom line, your life and my life are a part of one Life. All arise by conditions. The differences between you and me are just conditions that are shaping you as you are and me as I am."

Now, Life is living you.At this moment right now, "Life" is living you! Can you hear this calling? When this calling reaches to you, you can live your life as you are, regardless if life is going along with your wish or not - happy or sad. Nembutsu - saying Namu Amida Butsu vocally - is the constant reminder of this calling. Nembutsu roughly means "I entrust myself to the awakening of the immeasurable Life."

~Akinori Imai (Bishop of Higashi Honganji)

Yeah... so I just thought it was very interesting. I think that I really like Buddhist philosophy. Possibly just philosophy in general :P

Aug. 22nd, 2008

If I can think of something fun to give the winner, or anyone has anything to suggest, I'll totally do that. But yeah, I love these things! ^^

(1 Point) My first name:(2 Points) My last name:(3 Points) Take a stab at my middle name:(1 Point) Which Hogwarts house would I be sorted into?(1 Point) What is my hair color?:(3 Points) Name my celeb-crush:(1 Points) Do I have any children?:(2 Points) What work do I do?:(3 Points) What am I afraid of?:(2 Points) Do I smoke?:(2 Points) Do I drink?:(2 Points) If I drink, what do I order?:(2 Points) Do I have any siblings?:(2 Points) How many?:(4 Points) What's one of my favorite things to do?:(2 Points) How many piercings do I have?:(3 Points) What's my astro sun sign?:(2 Points) What's my favorite way to relax?:(2 Points) Who is my favorite band/artist?:(3 Points) Am I shy or outgoing?:(4 Points) What is my secret 'if I could do anything, money/reality no object' dream?:(2 Points) What is my favorite color?:(2 Points) Name something I hate:(2 Points) Name a talent I have:(2 Points) What's my fave place to shop?(4 Points) What kind of shoes do I wear?:(2 Points) Do I have any pets?:(1 Point) Am I married?:(3 Points) What is/was my field of study?:(3 Points) Name something I collect:(5 Points) What is the color of my bedroom?:(5 Points) What is my worst habit?:(5 Points on creativeness) If I were stranded on a desert island/desolate mountaintop, what would I bring:(6 Points) What's the biggest secret I keep from most people?

Aug. 18th, 2008

...Because I'm REALLY interested in kind of strange things (strange considering I hated AP physics and sucked at it) like astrophysics and space-time and string theory, but I have absolutely no idea what the books I read about it are saying.

I decided this in a store today when the most interesting book I found was one on the physics of alternate dimensions. Because really? How COOL is that!!!!

Aug. 14th, 2008

I know, I know, I'm a horrible person for not catching up on my last one yet. But I'm in Japan! I have an excuse!!! I swear I haven't forgotten about them though. Really! :P

Anyway, here's another for those of you who like these things and will be patient with me to fill out the answers to yours ^^

1. Who are you?2. Are we friends?3. When and how did we meet?4. Do you have a crush on me?5. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it.6. Describe me in one word.7. What was your first impression?8. Do you still think that way about me now?9. What reminds you of me?10. If you could give me anything what would it be?11. How well do you know me?12. When's the last time you saw me?13. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?14. Are you going to post this in your notes and see what I say about you?